As Wolfe is about to address the "Fifteen Masters" —Les Quinze Maitres—that fabulous convention of master chefs who meet only every five years to celebrate culinary delights—one of their number, Phillip Laszio, is found dead, apparently poisoned by one of his peers. Wolfe is at first reluctant to get involved, but then a friend of his becomes a prime suspect in the case, and an attempt is made on his own life. Add the possibility of attaining one of his fondest gastronomic ambitions, and Wolfe can no longer resist putting his ponderous brain to work on the solution to the mystery. (A complete edition of the book will include a sheaf of recipes mentioned in the text; in the first edition they were on sheets of blue paper bound into the end of the book.)